46 U.S.C. § 80508 — Amendments to Convention

(a) Proposals by United States. The Secretary of State, with the agreement of the Secretary of the department running the Coast Guard, may propose amendments to the Convention, or ask for a conference to amend it, following article IX of the Convention. (b) Proposals by Other Countries. If another country proposes an amendment under article IX(2) of the Convention, the President can accept it for the United States, with the Senate's advice and consent. The President may instead declare that the United States doesn't accept the amendment. (c) Amendments to Annexes. (1) In general. The Secretary of State, with the Coast Guard department's Secretary agreeing: (A) may propose amendments to the Convention's annexes; (B) may propose a conference to amend the annexes; and (C) must consider and act on annex amendments that the International Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee adopts and sends to the U.S. under article X(2) of the Convention. (2) Action following approval or objection. If the United States approves a proposed annex amendment, it takes effect as article X of the Convention describes. If the U.S. objects, the Secretary of State must promptly communicate that objection, as article X(3) describes. (d) Appointment of Arbitrator. The Secretary of State, with the Coast Guard department's Secretary agreeing, must appoint an arbitrator whenever one is needed to resolve a dispute under article XIII of the Convention.